Apparatus for designing a coupler

ABSTRACT

A measuring apparatus for determining dimensional data for use in designing a coupler which is manufactured to be fitted between the free ends of already assembled pipes in a pipe system is disclosed. A first joint on which a first arm is slidably supported is pivotally connected to one end of a rod adapted for gauging the distance between the points of bend in the coupler to be manufactured. A first joint on which a second arm is slidably supported is itself slidably mounted on the rod for movement therealong. With this arrangement, measurement of the angle defined by relative rotation of the rod about its axis to the arms is limited to one point, that is, at either of the joints. In addition, this apparatus permits easy installation on the site of measurement. The relative movement between the rod and the second arm and that between each arm and its associated attachment plate for engaging to the respective free end, are automatically measured by an electrical detection device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus for determiningdimensional data for use in designing a coupler which is speciallymanufactured to be fitted between the free ends of already assembledpipes in pipe systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

A piping system for vessels, marine structures, or land based plants maybe assembled as a modular unit from individual components such as flangepipes, fittings, and instruments that are prefabricated in the foundryor pipe manufacturing factory. Alternatively, it may be constructed ofintegral structures on which system elements are pre-equipped. However,even if these prefabricated system elements or pre-equipped structuresare themselves built within strict manufacturing tolerance, their actualassembly on the site does not always consummate a perfect fit as awhole. Where one-sided deviations from standard dimension concentratelocally, there occurs a misalignment between the ends of alreadyassembled pipes so that use of a straight pipe or a standard elbow isimpossible to interconnect the pipe ends. In traditional practice, anormally double-bent pipe or coupler is specially manufactured, based onactual measurements made between the free ends of already assembledpipes at the very side of constructing a pipe system. The pipe thusmanufactured is fitted between those free ends.

To manufacture the coupler in a shape congruous enough to be preciselyfitted in its place, a suitable measuring apparatus is required which isused to determine the length of coupler segments and the relative anglebetween them and determine its relative position to the flange bolts ofeach assembled pipe to obtain necessary dimensional data for designingits shape. There have been proposed many such devices.

The published Japanese Patent application No. 50-110964 discloses atypical apparatus of this kind. This apparatus consists of a graduatedrod, a pair of graduated arms rotatably slidably mounted at their oneend on the rod, and a pair of flange plates also rotatably slidablyjointed to the opposite ends of the arms, respectively. In practice, theapparatus is held in suspended position between the free flanged ends ofalready incorporated flange pipes in which a specially manufacturedcoupler is to be connected, with the flange plates secured to theflanged end, respectively. The angular and positional relation of eachflange plate to the associated arm is measured to determine the relativeorientation of the coupler to each flanged end of the already assembledpipes and the distance between each point of bend and the plane of thecorresponding flanged end. In addition, the angle defined by relativerotation of each arm to the rod is gauged to determine the relativeorientation of the central portion to each bent end in the remodeledpipe. Moreover, the distance between the points at which the axis of therod is intersected by the axes of the arms is measured to represent thelength between the points of bend. Thus, with this conventionalmeasuring apparatus, the measurer must take reading at a total of ninepoints for a single coupler to be manufactured.

However, these prior art measuring apparatus pose various problems.First, since their structural designs are such that the rod extends tostand in the way of the arm rotating beyond the point defined by thelongitudinal axis of the rod (about 180° C.), some difficulty isencountered in handling and in properly framing the apparatus asrequired at the site of measurement. Secondly, since the measuringoperation in itself requires human attendance directly at the very spotwhere the apparatus is installed, use at a high place or a restrictedarea or under poor lighting condition must expect considerableinconvenience, with a resultant high risk of making errors of reading.In addition, since the measurer has as many as nine points at which totake reading for a single coupler, as stated earlier, not only isenormous effort imposed on the measurer, but also complicated operationsare involved in subsequent processing of measured data.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentionedproblems. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide ameasuring apparatus for determining the shape of a coupler which can beuniversally employed without limitations as to handling. Another objectis to provide such an apparatus which is capable of automatic reading sothat the measurer need not attend directly on the apparatus at the siteof measurement. Still another object is to provide such an apparatuswhich permits the measurer to reduce the number of measuring itemsrequired to design a coupler to be manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To illustrate briefly, the apparatus for designing a coupler inaccordance with the present invention consists of a rod member formeasuring the distance between the points of bend in a coupler, a firstjoint pivotally mounted at one end of the rod member and having a firstarm pivotally mounted thereon for measuring the angle defined byrelative rotation to the rod of the first arm about the axis of the rodand about the axis perpendicular to that of the axis, and a second jointslidably mounted on the rod and having thereon a second arm pivotallymounted for measuring the angle defined by relative rotation of thesecond arm to the rod about the axis perpendicular to the axis of therod. This design, on the one side, reduces measuring operations sincethe measurer need not measure the angle defined by relative rotation tothe rod of the second arm about the axis of the rod. On the other hand,since one arm is made freely rotatable in all directions, the apparatuscan be set up with increased ease.

Beside the above-mentioned features, the present invention offers otheradvantages. For example, each arm is slidable with respect to itsassociated joint. This enhances efficiency in measuring the distancebetween the point of bend in a coupler and the plane of thecorresponding flanged pipe end to which the coupler is to be connected.In addition, each of the arms is provided with an engagement plate whichis pivotable for easily engaging with the flange pipe end. Moreover, thearms, along with the engagement plates, are each provided with a meansto electrically determine the relative movement of movable apparatussegments to one another, which enables an automatic reading ofmeasurements that are used to design the shape of the coupler to bemanufactured.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the measuringapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively cross-sectional views of the first andsecond joints; and

FIG. 4(a) is a plan view of the engagement plate, and FIGS. 4(b) and4(c) are respectively cross-sectional views of its important parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described in detail in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of a preferred embodiment of themeasuring apparatus according to this invention.

The measuring apparatus of this invention has a rod, largely designatedat 10, which has a means for measuring the distance between the pointsof bend in coupler, as will be described later. To one end of this rod10 is detachably pivotally connected a first joint 20 such that thejoint 20 is pivotable about the axis of the rod 10 and has a means whichdetects the angle defined by relative movement of the joint 20 to therod 10. A second joint 30 is slidably mounted on the opposite part ofthe rod 10 such that the joint 30 is set at any point on the rodrelative to the first joint 20 and has a means which detects the angledefined by relative rotation of the joint 30 to the rod 10. A pair offirst and second arms 40a and 40b are respectively connected to thejoints 20 and 30 in such a manner that the arms 40a and 40b are slidablerelative to their associated joint and have a means which detects thedistance between the corresponding point of bend and the plane of therespective flanged end of the already assembled pipe. Also, a pair ofengagement plates 50 and 50 are rotatably detachably connected to theopposite ends of the arms 40a and 40b, respectively, for engaging withthe respective flanged pipe free ends.

Individual apparatus segments will be described in more detail. The rod10 is composed of a main rod portion 11 of rectangular cross-section, onwhich the second joint 30 is slidably mounted, and an auxiliary rodportion 12 of rectangular cross-section coaxially connected to the mainrod portion, on which the first joint 20 is pivotally mounted.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first joint 20 has therein a sleeve 21 that ispivotable on bearing means (not shown) into which the auxiliary rodportion 12 of the rod is detachably inserted at its end. A gear wheel 22is made integral with the sleeve 21 for rotation therewith about theaxis of the rod 10. A potentiometer 23 is mounted fixedly on the firstjoint 20 and has a pinion 23a operatively connected thereto. The gearwheel 22 is engaged in mesh with the pinion 23a such that thepotentiometer 23 detects the angle defined by relative rotation to therod 10 of the first joint 20 and hence the first arm 40a about the axisof the rod 10. On that side of the first joint 20 perpendicular to theside through which the auxiliary rod portion 12 is inserted, an armguide 24 is pivotally mounted which has a rectangular guide hole 24abored therethrough, in which the first arm 40a is slidably supported.The arm guide 24 pivots about the axis perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the first arm 40a. A gear wheel 25 is made integral with the armguide 24 for rotation therewith and engaged in mesh with a pinion (notshown), which is operatively connected with the potentiometer 26. It isso designed that the potentiometer 26 detects the angle formed byrelative rotation to the rod of the first arm 40a about the axisperpendicular to that of the rod. The first arm is composed of a mainarm portion 41a, which is inserted into the arm guide 24, and anauxiliary arm portion 42a. Also, means is provided to measure thedistance between the point of bend, that is, the point at which the rodis intersected by the first arm, and the plane of the flanged pipe endW. This is done by a linear potentiometer system having a length ofresistance wire 43 extended in the main arm portion 41a and a brush 27,as a sliding contact, provided at the tip of an adjustment screw 27athat is provided in the arm guide 24. The distance is determined bygauging the voltage in the wire 43 when the brush 27 is brought intocontact with the resistance wire 43 by turning in the adjustment screwat the point where the first arm is fixed to the arm guide 24. In FIG.2, the numeral 28 indicates a screw for fixing the first arm 40a to thearm guide 24. Also, the numeral 29 designates a screw for securing theauxiliary rod portion 12 to the sleeve 21.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the second joint 30, in which the rod 10 isslidably supported, has a means which detects the angle formed byrelative rotation to the rod 10 of the second arm 40b about the axisperpendicular to that of the rod 10 and a means which measures thedistance between the points of bend, that is, the points at which therod is intersected by the first and second arms. The second joint 30 isprovided with a rod sleeve 31 having a rectangular hole 31a boredtherethrough, in which the main rod portion 11 is slidably supported.The means for detecting the distance between the points of bend if alinear potentiometer system having a length of resistance wire 13extended in the main rod portion 11 and a brush 32 as a sliding contact,provided at the tip of an adjustment screw 32a that is installed in thesecond joint 30. The distance is determined by gauging the voltage inthe resistane wire 13 when the brush 32 is brought into contact with itby the adjustment screw 32a at the point where the second joint 30 isfixed to the rod 10. On the second joint 30 is also provided an armguide 33 having a rectangular hole 33a bored therethrough in which thesecond arm 40b is slidably supported. The arm guide 33 is pivotablydisposed to rotate about the axis perpendicular to that of the rod 10. Agear wheel 34 is made integral with the arm guide 33 for rotationtherewith such that the second arm 40b is oscillated relative to therod. A potentiometer 35 is secured on the second joint 30 and has a gearwheel 35a operatively connected thereto, which is engaged in mesh withthe gear wheel 34. It is so designed that the potentiometer 35 detectsthe angle defined by relative rotation to the rod of the second arm 40babout the axis perpendicular to that of the rod 10. Also, the meansdesigned to measure the distance between the point of bend, that is, thepoint at which the rod is intersected by the second arm 40b, and theplane of the flanged pipe end W, is connected to a linear potentiometersystem having a length of resistance wire 43 extended in the main armportion 41b and a brush 36, as a sliding contact, provided at the tip ofan adjustment screw 36a that is installed in the arm guide 33. Thedistance is determined by gauging the voltage in the resistance wire 43when the brush 36 is brought into contact with the wire 43 by turning inthe adjustment screw 36a at the point where the second arm 40b issecured to the arm guide 33. In FIG. 3, the numeral 38 designates ascrew for fixing the second joint 30 to the main rod portion 11. Thenumeral 39 indicates a screw for securing the second arm 40b to the armguide 33.

Referring to FIGS. 4(a) through 4(c), an engagement member 50 isdetachably connected to the opposite end of each auxiliary arm portion42a, 42b for attaching to the respective flanged pipe end W. Bothengagement members 50 and 50 are similar in construction and in themanner in which they are connected. Accordingly, description will beconfined to that one which is coupled to the first arm 40a. Theengagement member 50 is composed of a pair of guide plates 51 and 51disposed in spaced-apart parallel relationship with each other. A sleeve52 is pivotally disposed in the guide plates 51 and 51 for receivingtherein the rectangular end of the auxiliary arm portion 42a. A gearwheel 53 is made integral with the sleeve 52 for rotation therewith suchthat the first arm 40a can be relatively pivoted to the engagementmember. A potentiometer 54 is provided in the engagement member 50 andis operatively connected with the gear wheel 53 through a pinion 54awith which the gear wheel 53 is engaged in mesh. It is so designed thatthe potentiometer 54 detects the relative movement of the engagementmember 50 to the first arm 40a as the former 50 is pivoted into properalignment with the flanged pipe free end W. Thus, the positions of thebolt holes in the flanged end W are identified. A pair of rack frames 56and 56 are slidably disposed in the spacing in the guide plates 51 and51 in such a manner that they can move in opposite directions relativeto each other. Each rack frame 56 is provided at its other end with asupport plate 55 that holds the respective rack frame 56 in a rigidconstruction. As shown in FIG. 4(a), one of the rack frames (in thisparticular embodiment, the lefthand one in the drawing) is provided withteeth along its outside edge, largely indicated at 56b, while the otherbeing cut with teeth along its inside edge largely designated at 56a. Apair of matching pinions 57 and 57 are provided in the guide plates anddisposed to rotate in mesh with the rack frames, respectively. Thearrangement is such that both racks move simultaneously in oppositedirections and always for an exactly equal distance. The numeral 58indicates a hook means which can be pivoted about a pivot 58a, as bestshown in FIG. 4(a), that is fixed on the support plate 55. The hookmeans 58 has a hook portion 58b for securing the engagement plate 50 tothe flanged pipe end W. This is done by engaging the hook means 58 abouta bolt 70 inserted through the flanged end bolt hole and tightening anut 71 to the bolt 70, as shown in FIG. 4(b). The numeral 60 indicates ascrew for fixing the rack frames to the guide plates 51. Also, thenumeral 61 designates a screw for fixing the auxiliary arm portion 42ato the engaging member 50.

The manner in which the measuring apparatus of this invention is set upat the site of measurement will be described in detail.

First, the engagement member 50, as it is not coupled to an arm, is heldagainst the flanged pipe end W in a properly aligned manner. With theengagement member in this position, the rack frames 56 and 56 are pulledout from the guide plates 51 to a point where the hook means 58, swungabout its pivot 58a, is engaged about a bolt 70 inserted through theflanged end bolt hole at either side of the engagement member 50. Toeach of the bolts 70, a nut 71 is applied and tightened so that theengagement member 50 is secured to the flanged end W through both rackframes 56 and 56. Of course, this operation is repeated with bothengagement memebers 50 and 50.

Then, to the secured engagement members 50 and 50, the first and secondarms 40a and 40b are respectively connected by inserting their auxiliaryarm portions 42a into the respective sleeves 52. Then, the ends of themain arm portions 41a and 41b are respectively inserted into the armguides 24 and 33 in the joints 20 and 30. Finally, the rod 10 isassembled to complete the apparatus by inserting the auxiliary rodportion 12 into the sleeve 21 of the first joint 20 and the main rodportion 11 into the sleeve 31 in the second joint 30.

In the assembly of the measuring apparatus, as described above, thepotentiometer 54 determines the positions of the flanged pipe free endbolt holes as the amount of rotation of the sleeves in both engagementmembers. Also, the distance between each point of bend and the plane ofthe respective flanged end W is detected by the linear potentiometersystem as the magnitude of voltage in the corresponding wires 43 in themain arm portions 41a and 41b as they are contacted by their respectivebrushes 27 and 36 in the arm guides 24 and 33, respectively, at thepoint where each arm is fixed to the arm guide. Moreover, the angledefined by relative rotation to the rod of each arm 40a, 40b about theaxis perpendicular to that of the rod, is detected by the potentiometers26 and 35, respectively provided in the first and second joints 20 and30. Furthermore, the angle formed by relative rotation to the rod of thefirst arm 40a about the axis of the rod, is detected by thepotentiometer 23. In addition, the distance between the points of bendis detected by the linear potentiometer system as the magnitude ofvoltage in the resistance wire 13 in the main rod portion 11 as it iscontacted by the brush 32 in the sleeve 31 at the point where the secondjoint 30 is fixed to the rod 10. These detected measurements are inputas data signals into a data processing device which analyzes them todesign the shape of a coupler which is specially manufactured to befitted between the flanged pipe ends W.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION AND EFFECTS

It will be appreciated from the above that the measuring apparatusaccording to this invention is very suitable in cases where it isimpossible to use straight couplers or standard elbows between the freeends of already assembled pipes owing to structural disalignment invessel pipe networks or land based plants. This apparatus allows fordesign of a coupler to be connected between such disaligned pipe ends,based on fewer measurements than with conventional devices.

We claim:
 1. A measuring apparatus for designing the shape of a couplerto be fitted between the flanged ends of already assembled pipes in apipe system, comprising:a rod member for gauging the distance betweenpoints of bend in said coupler, a pair of first and second arms forgauging the distance between each of said points of bend and thecorresponding flanged end, a first junction member having at least afirst surface and a second surface whose plane is perpendicular withthat of said first surface, coupling means pivotally connected in saidfirst surface of said first junction member for coupling to one end ofsaid rod such that said rod is pivotable about its axis, holding meanspivotally connected in said second surface of said first junction memberfor holding therein said first arm such that said first arm is pivotableabout an axis perpendicular with that of said rod and also slidable withrespect to said first junction member, electrical detection meansprovided in said first junction member for electrically measuring theangle defined by relative rotation of said rod about its axis to saidfirst arm, the angle defined by relative rotation to said rod of saidfirst arm about the axis perpendicular with that of said rod, and theamount of linear movement of said first arm with respect to a referencepoint, a second junction member having at least a first and secondsurface opposite to each other, a first sleeve provided on said firstsurface which permits movement of said rod therethrough such that saidsecond junction member can take any position along said rod with respectto said first arm, and a second sleeve pivotally connected to saidsecond surface for holding said second arm therein such that said secondarm is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to that of said rod and isalso slidable with respect to said second junction member, electricaldetection means provided in said second junction member for electricallymeasuring the distance between said first and second junction membersalong said rod, the angle defined by relative rotation of said secondarm to said rod, and the amount of linear movement of said second armwith respect to a reference point, a pair of engagement plates forengaging with the respective flanged ends which are rotatably connectedto the opposite ends of said first and second arms, respectively, and,electrical detection means provided in each of said engagement platesfor measuring the angle defined by relative movement of each engagementplate about its associated arm.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein said first junction member and said engagement plates arerespectively detachably connected to said rod and said first and secondarms.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electricaldetection means provided in each of said first and second junctionmembers includes linear potentiometer means which detects the magnitudeof voltage in a length of resistance wire provided in said rod and therespective one of said first and second arms to measure relativemovement therebetween.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereineach of said engagement plates comprises a pair of rack and pinionarrangements, each arrangement including a rack portion, in which eachrack portion is designed to move in an opposite direction with respectto the other rack portion of the same engagement plate, a pair of commonpinions in meshing engagement with both rack portions at one end of therack portions, and engaging means provided at the opposite ends of saidrack portions for individually engaging with the respective flanged endsof already assembled pipes through bolts inserted through said flangedpipe ends.